Weft-detecting mechanism



Nov, 1, 1927. y

, A. GORDON WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1924 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ALBERT A. GORDON, OF VIORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOlII WORKS, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed September 24, 1924.

This invention relates to weft replenishing mechanism and particularly to improved arrangements for rendering the weft detector alternately operative and inoperative. In the operation of automatic weft replenishing looms in which very fine weft is nsed, a single bobbin of weft will run for a long time in a shuttle and the weft will thus be engaged a great number of times by the weft detector. Fine weft, when thus repeatedly engaged, often becomes roughened and sometimes broken by such frequent engagement.

It is the object of my invention to provide improved means by which the weft cletector will be normally held from engagement with the weft in the running shuttle but will be periodically released to engage the weft and indicate the condition of the weft supply.

A further object of my invention is to provide means by which the weft detector will also be released to engage the weft whenever a change in shuttle occurs.

M invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which 7 Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a weft replenishing mechanism and weft detector embodying my improvement,

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 2.-2 in Fi 1,

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 shows parts of the weft detecting device in a different position.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a magazine frame adapted .to be secured in fixed position upon a loom frame (not shown). The magazine illustrated is of the stationary multicolor type and is Drovided with a series of vertical compartments 11 in which bobbins of different colors can be stored. These bobbins are retained in'ithe compartments by supporting devices which are actuated by vertically movable slides 12 to selectively release the lowermost bobbin in a desired compartment.

These slides 12 are provided with lugs or projections 13 extending into the path of movement of one or the other of a pair of arms 14 fixed on a rock shaft 15. The shaft 15 given a limited rocking or oscilframe 10 and have mounted a THEFT-DETECTING MECHANISM.

Serial No. 739,713.

lating movement on each alternate beat of the lay and is also movable axially to align the arms 14 with different projections 13. The parts thus far described are of the usual type and in themselves form no part of my invention. For a more complete description thereof, reference is made to the prior patent to Ryon No. 1,030,748 issued June 25, 1912.

I have also indicated in the drawings a weftdetecting device comprising a detector or slide mounted in a stand 21 and having a detecting member 22 fixed to said slide and a detecting member 23 pivoted thereto. The details of construction of this detecting device also form no part of my invention and are more fully disclosed in the prior patent to Ryon No. 1,352,536, issued Sept. 14., 1920.

F or the purpose of this application, it is sutficient to state that the slide 20 is normally in rearward position, so that the dctecting members 22 and 23 engage the weft in the active shuttle on every alternate forward movement of the lay, the slide being yieldingly pressed rearward by a coil spring 24 (Fig. 1) which engages a bracket 25 fixed on the slide within the casing 21.

In applying my invention to the parts above described, I have provided a latch 26 (Fig. 1) pivoted at 27 to a collar 28 secured between collars fixed to the forward end of a rod 29 which is threaded in the casing 21 and centers the spring 24. As the detector or slide 20 is pushed forward (or to the right in Fig. 1), the latch 26 engages the bracket 25 on the slide and locks the slide in forward position. v

I will now describe the mechanism which I have provided for periodically releasing the weft detector. For this purpose, I have provided a stud 30 fixed to the magazine series of ratchet wheels 31 and associated releasing devices or cam discs 32 these parts corresponding in number to the number of compartments in the magazine and to the number of shuttles in the loom. V

A feed pawl 33 is pivoted at 34 on the end of an arm 35 formed integrally with the arms 14 previously described. At each 0scillation of the shaft 15, the pawl 33 advances one of the ratchet wheels 31 a. single space and isheld in this position by mechanism to be described. The pawl 33 is moved axially and always corresponds in position to the position of the drop boxes. The pawl thus always engages the ratchet wheel corresponding to the running shuttle.

A lever 38 is loosely pivoted on the rock shaft and has an offset projection 39 which is connected by a link 10 to the latch 22. The lever 38 overlies one of the cam discs 32 and is provided with three short projections 4-2 which overlie the remaining cam discs. Each cam disc 32 is provided with a tooth or lug 13 which engages the lever 38 or one of the short projections t2 once in each revolution, raising the lever 38 and releasing the detector or slide from the latch 26.

In order to prevent retrograde movement of the ratchets I form each of them with notched portions 60 to cooperate with holding spring 61 secured to the stand of the replenishing mechanism.

Each ratchet wheel 31 is thus moved forward one tooth at every alternate beat of the lay so long as its associated shuttle is running but as soon as a change in shuttles occurs, the feed pawl is shifted to engage another ratchet wheel and the first mentioned ratchet wheel remains at rest until its particular shuttle again becomes active. In this way the device keeps separate count of the picks for each different shuttle and releases the weft detector for a single detecting movement after a predetermined number of flights of its shuttle. The ratchet wheels shown in the drawings are provioed with twenty-four teeth and will release the detector after a particular shuttle has made forty-eight flights across the lay.

It is desirable, moreover, that the detector should be released to indicate the weft condition whenever achange in shuttles occurs, as otherwise a nearly exhausted shuttle may not be properly indicated. For this purpose I have provided a roll 50 (Fig. 2) mounted on a stud projecting from the side of the lever 38 and positioned for engagement and depression by pins 51 in the arm 35 carried by the rock shaft 15. Whenever the shaft 15 is shifted xially from any one shuttle position to another, one or more of the pins 51 will engage the roll 50, rocking the lever 38 and lifting the latch :26 to release the weft detector.

If desired, a second roll 52 may be mounted on a fixed stud adjacent the roll so that the pins 51 must pass between the two rolls 50 and 52 and the roll 52 will prevent upward yielding of the pins 51.

If the shuttle thus indicated does not have sufficient weft thereon to complete the predetermined number of flights across the loom, this amount of yarn will not be enough to push the detector slide forward sufficiently so that it may be caught by the latch 26.

The detector Will thereafter remain opera tive for that shuttle until that particular weft carrier is substantially exhausted and replaced.

Having thus described myinvention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I do claim is:

1. In a loom having a plnralityof shuttles, movable selectively to running position, and a member selectively movable to different positions corresponding to the selective movements of the several shuttles to and from running position, in combination, a weft detector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, and releasing means for said detector controlled by said selectively movable member and released thereby every time that any one of said several shuttles has individually completed a predeterw mined number of flights.

2. In a loom having a plurality of shutties, movable selectively to running position, and having a member movable to differ nt positions corresponding 'to the selective movements of the several shuttles, in combination, a weft detector,means to hold saiddetector in inoperative position, and means separately operated for each shuttle and effective torelease said detector after any one of said several shuttles has made a predetermined number of flights, said means being controlled by said member.

3. In a loom having a plurality of shut tles, in combination, a weft detector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, a releasing device for said holding means, actuating devices for said releasing device corresponding in number to said shuttles, and means effective to move a selected actu ating device and to thereby separately indicate the number of flights of each of said shuttles.

l. In a loom having a plurality of shuttles, movable selectively to running position, and having a member movable to different positions corresponding to theselective movements of the several shuttles, in combination, a weftdetector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, releasing means for said detector controlled by said member and separately operative for each shuttle and in accordance with. the flights of each separate shuttle, and additional means to release said detector upon a change in the running shuttle.

5. In a drop box loom having a plurality of shuttles, in combination, a weft detector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, means to release said detector after any one of said shuttles has made a predetermined number of flights and additional means to releasev said detector upon a change in the posit-ion of the drop boxes.

6. In a loom having a plurality of shutties, in combination, a weft detector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, releasing devices for said detector, and actuating mechanism for said releasing device, said mechanism including a separate pickcounting device for each shuttle.

7. In a loom having a plurality of shuttles, in combination, a weft detector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, releasing devices for said detector, and actuating-mechanism for said releasing device, said mechanism including a separate pickcounting device for each shuttle and a single feed pawl operative at any given time only with the particular counting device associated with the running shuttle and inoperative with respect to all other counting devices.

8. In a loom having a plurality of shuttles, in combination, a weft detector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, a releasing lever, selective means separately controlled for each shuttle and in accordance with the movements thereof, said selecting means being effective to actuate said lever to release said detector, and additional means to actuate said lever upon a change in the running shuttle.

9. In a loom having a plurality of shuttles, in combination, a weft detector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, a releasing lever, a series of ratchet wheels corresponding in number to the number of shuttles, lever-actuating elements movable with said ratchet wheels, a feed pawl, means effective to associate said feed pawl with a selected ratchet wheel corresponding to the running shuttle, and means to actuate said pawl.

10. In a loom having a plurality of shuttles, in combination, a weft detector, means to hold said detector in inoperative position, a releasing lever, a roll on said lever, a rollactuating device movable transversely to said roll, and a series of projecting elements on said actuating device, each adapted to en gage and move said roll and to thereby actuate said lever to release said detector.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature. 

